Sequestration is in place and federal agencies are having to cut back on the spending. However, the fallout is starting to reach the local levels in areas that provide a crucial service.

“The unforeseen effects is causing us a little bit of grief,” said Michael Bur, executive director of the Cheboygan County Council on Aging. “Everything is delayed. For instance, we got the first half of the money from the state and federal government grants of $114,000. We were expecting the second half by April 1. The state has approved its portion, but that only is $44,000. We still are waiting on about $70,000.”

He said the agency may have to borrow money, but the county has given $25,000 which will help for the next month.

One of the major programs the council provides is Meals on Wheels. This program delivers about 70,000 meals a year to local seniors.

Bur said the program will not be cut.

“The cuts, the way they are designed, affect meals on wheels the most. That is the most important thing we do,” he said. “Meals on Wheels is our opportunity to see these people every day. This may be their only social interaction in a day. Some simple fall could end up being lethal if somebody doesn’t get to them in time. That is an important part of our service.”

He said even though the cuts can be withstood this year, it will be difficult later.

“We are going to get by. We are not going to cut Meals on Wheels or any of our services. We will try to find other ways to fund it,” the executive director said. “We will have to cut back on maintenance. It will come back to bite us down the road.”

He said the agency has seven vehicles and they try to replace one every year because of the miles put on delivering meals. However, there is no way to do it this year and if the agency has to replace two or three at a time, it will not be possible.

Bur said the agency has been reduced through the years and the cuts are starting to be felt.

“When I started here in 2004, our operating budget was over $1.5 million. This year it is $1.08 million. That is about a third cut. We had 44 employees, now we have 30,” he said. “The need hasn’t gone down at all. There are more seniors in the county now than ever before. We are doing more on less. In some point in time, the straw that breaks the camel’s back is going to find its way home.”

Bur said sequestration is not a bad thing, but the timing is “unfortunate”.

Page 2 of 2 - “Sequestration on the surface means very little. Its just a cumulative affect with all the cuts that have come since 2007,” he said. “When you think about a 5.4 percent cut, a company should be able to absorb without much pain.”

The council does have a .5 mill levy in place and that bring in about $580,000 per year, but the council may have to look at asking the voters for more.

“It is an option we can ask for but the citizens of the county have to indicate their willingness to do that,” Bur said. “We are reluctant to ask for it unless there is an absolute necessity.”

The director said there still is some millage money the county is holding on to for capital improvements, but those funds may be needed soon.

“We still do have a little fund balance, borrowing capability and the county has an unspent portion of the senior millage held back for capital improvement,” he said of available revenue sources, but there is a catch. “Our septic system is failing. We have a roof leaking in Wolverine.”

To help make up the shortfall, Bur said the group is willing to do whatever it takes.

“We have had to do some unusual things. We had three senior citizen centers and we closed one,” he said. “We have asked the citizens of the county to volunteer. One of our routes is driven 4 days a week by volunteers.”

He said the legislatures are to blame for the cuts because the seniors are an easy target.

“We are getting to the point where things are suffering that aren’t going to impact us today or tomorrow, but will down the road,” he said. “We are an asset to the community. It would be a shame to let it get to a point where it is not a recoverable asset.”

The tenacity of the council on aging still comes through ― even in tough times.

“We are trying to find out ways to make nickels and dimes to replace the dollars lost,” Bur said. “If the need is there, we will find a way to meet it. That is the way it always has been done.”